BMW ActiveE field trials begin in 2011

BMW announced that the ActiveE field trial program will begin in select cities in the summer of 2011.

At last week’s Opportunity Green in Los Angeles, BMW announced that it is preparing to launch the ActiveE field trial program in select cities in the summer of 2011. A few lucky customers will help BMW fine-tune its electric vehicle technology in preparation for the Megacity Vehicle release in 2013. The BMW ActiveE field trial will be conducted in the New York metro area, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Sacramento, and Boston.

BMW is partnering with government agencies, utility companies, and organizations in these cities to help develop and support the ActiveE trial as well as EV infrastructure in general. Rich Steinberg, manager of electric vehicle operations and strategy at BMW North America is excited about the upcoming field trials.

“We’re looking forward to working with more drivers in more markets to build on our base of experiences as we get ready for the launch of the Megacity Vehicle, and we look forward to even greater collaboration with the BMW ActiveE.” Source: BMW

BMW first revealed the concept ActiveE at the 2010 North American International Auto Show in January. The vehicle is based off the BMW 1 Series Coupe and will come equipped with a new electric drivetrain and an advanced lithium-ion battery pack. The vehicle is likely to have a 0-60 mph time of approximately 8.5 seconds with an electronically limited top speed of 90 mph.

The lithium-ion battery pack, which is being developed in cooperation with SB-LiMotive, will feature a new storage cell developed solely for use in the automobile market. The goal is to use the most advanced energy storage technology available to help BMW prepare for the Megacity Vehicle, which will be BMW’s first mass produced all-electric vehicle.

Other high-tech features included in the BMW ActiveE include a climate control system that can be activated via a smartphone and a timer function to pre-cool or pre-heat the vehicle, which will actually help optimize the driving range of the vehicle.

The 2011 ActiveE field trial will allow BMW build upon the knowledge they have gained through the MINI E field trial, which is now in its second year. Stay tuned to MNN for more news on the ActiveE field trial.